Sometimes, women don’t need conventional IVF treatment. The risks are high, and for the women who have issues with invasive methods, the thought of injection-based medication can be daunting.
Mini IVF procedures are exactly what they sound like. Unlike the conventional IVF treatments, the mini-IVF treatment includes a lower dose of fertility medication, typically taken through oral methods. Unlike hormone injections, these medications are generally lower in number, and they don’t cost that much either. The hormone injections are still a part of the treatment. However, they are lesser in frequency.
Why Choose Mini-IVF Treatment
There are considerable advantages of the mini-IVF treatment over conventional procedures.
- The primary benefit of mini-IVF treatment is the reduction in medication and henceforth, a lower associated cost. For the women who face side effects from higher medication, mini-IVF is both safer and cost-friendly.
- Issues like injection pain and other discomforting side effects are less common
- The likelihood of ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome reduces significantly.
- For patients with tubal factor infertility, mini-IVF is a safer and better option.
- Women under the age of 35 also make good candidates for this kind of treatment.
What to Expect
Unlike the conventional IVF treatment, you will not need to fear needles or blood draws. Women start taking contraceptives and oral medications. Ultrasounds and other tests are performed to check the response to treatment. When the eggs mature, injections of follicle hormone stimulation are used, and matured eggs are retrieved. They are fertilized with the partner’s (or donor’s) sperm and embryos are developed in the lab. After five days, the developing embryo is transferred to the uterus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Mini IVF different from traditional IVF?
The main difference between Mini IVF and traditional IVF is the dose of fertility medications used.
In Mini IVF, we use lower doses of stimulation drugs to encourage your ovaries to produce fewer eggs — often aiming for quality over quantity. This means:
• Fewer injections and lower medication costs
• Reduced risk of side effects, like OHSS
• A more gentle, less intensive process
Traditional IVF typically aims to retrieve a higher number of eggs, which can be beneficial for embryo selection or freezing for future use.
At Dr Daniel Lantsberg’s clinic, we’ll help you decide which approach is best for your goals, ovarian reserve, and past treatment response. Both options can be highly effective — it’s about finding the right fit for you.
Is Mini IVF suitable for women with tubal factor infertility?
Yes — Mini IVF can be a suitable option for women with tubal factor infertility, since IVF bypasses the fallopian tubes entirely.
Whether you choose Mini IVF or a standard stimulation cycle depends more on your age, ovarian reserve, and treatment goals. If you’re likely to respond well to a milder approach, Mini IVF may offer a gentler alternative with fewer medications and lower costs.
At Dr Daniel Lantsberg’s clinic, we tailor every treatment plan to your unique needs — including for women with blocked, damaged, or removed fallopian tubes.
How are medications administered in Mini IVF?
In Mini IVF, medications are given in lower doses compared to traditional IVF — but they’re still typically administered through daily injections under the skin (subcutaneous), similar to standard IVF.
Alternatively, we may use oral medications, like letrozole or clomiphene, to gently stimulate the ovaries. The goal is to recruit a few high-quality eggs, rather than a large number.
At Dr Daniel Lantsberg’s clinic, we’ll guide you through every step — including how to use the injections at home — and keep monitoring gentle and targeted. The process is streamlined, and many patients find it more manageable, both physically and emotionally.
What is the timeline of a Mini IVF cycle?
A Mini IVF cycle typically takes about 2–3 weeks from the start of medication to egg collection. Here’s a general overview:
1. Day 1–3 of your period – You’ll have a baseline scan and start stimulation with low-dose injections and/or oral medications.
2. Stimulation phase (8–10 days) – You’ll take daily medication to gently stimulate your ovaries. We’ll monitor you with 1–3 ultrasounds and blood tests.
3. Trigger injection – Once your follicles are ready, you’ll take a trigger shot to mature the eggs.
4. Egg collection (OPU) – About 36 hours later, we collect the eggs in a short day-procedure under light sedation.
5. Fertilisation and embryo development – If proceeding with IVF or ICSI, your eggs are fertilised in the lab and monitored for several days.
6. Embryo transfer or freezing – Embryos are either transferred or frozen depending on your plan.
At Dr Daniel Lantsberg’s clinic, we keep the process streamlined and low-stress, while giving you personalised care throughout.
Who should avoid Mini IVF treatment?
While Mini IVF can be a great option for some, it’s not suitable for everyone. It may be less effective in situations where we need to maximise egg numbers, such as:
• Women with good ovarian reserve who want to create and freeze multiple embryos
• Those planning PGT-A (genetic testing), where having more embryos improves chances
• Couples who need donor egg banking or surrogacy with multiple cycles planned
At Dr Daniel Lantsberg’s clinic, we’ll assess your unique fertility profile and past responses before recommending Mini IVF. The goal is always to give you the best chance with the most appropriate, evidence-based approach.
Can Mini IVF be used with donor sperm or eggs?
Yes — Mini IVF can be used with donor sperm, and in some cases, with donor eggs as well.
For donor sperm, Mini IVF works just like standard IVF or ICSI. It’s often a great option for single women or same-sex female couples looking for a lower-intervention path to pregnancy.
When it comes to donor eggs, the recipient doesn’t usually need ovarian stimulation — but Mini IVF might be used for the egg donor, especially if she’s young and has a good ovarian reserve.
At Dr Daniel Lantsberg’s clinic, we work closely with Melbourne IVF and donor programs to provide safe, supportive, and personalised care — whether you’re using your own eggs or donor options.
What are the emotional and physical benefits of Mini IVF?
Mini IVF is often chosen for its gentler, more manageable approach — especially when patients want to avoid the intensity of traditional IVF.
Some key benefits include:
• Fewer medications – Lower hormone doses mean fewer injections and reduced hormonal load on the body
• Fewer side effects – Lower stimulation protocols carry a reduced risk of bloating, mood changes, and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
• A more natural feel – Many patients appreciate a softer approach that focuses on quality over quantity
At Dr Daniel Lantsberg’s clinic, we offer Mini IVF as one of several personalised options — always guided by your medical needs and preferences.